Australia Condemns Israel’s Decision Not to Criminally Investigate Gaza Aid Worker’s Death

Australia has strongly criticised Israel’s decision not to open a criminal investigation into the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was killed alongside six colleagues in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza in April 2024.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the decision as “outrageous”, saying it fell far short of the accountability expected by the Australian government. Australia has summoned Israel’s ambassador, Hillel Newman, over the matter.

Frankcom was working for World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organisation providing food assistance in Gaza. The other victims included three British nationals, a Palestinian, a Polish national and a dual US-Canadian citizen.

The Israeli military said its investigation found “serious failures” in the events leading to the attack but concluded that the commanders’ decisions did not create reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct. It said an armed guard travelling with the convoy had not been properly identified and that the vehicles had deviated from the route coordinated with the military.

Frankcom’s family said it was “deeply disappointed” with the decision and called for an independent investigation. WCK also rejected the Israeli findings, arguing that the IDF could not credibly investigate its own conduct.

Wong questioned why three separate strikes hit the convoy within minutes if the first strike had been a catastrophic error. She also said that the removal of two officers and reprimanding of three others after the initial investigation was insufficient accountability.

The Australian government has also requested drone audio from the attack, but Wong said it had not yet been provided.

Israel’s ambassador defended the military investigation, saying there had been no criminal intention to kill civilians and therefore no criminal responsibility. He expressed sorrow for the victims’ families but declined to apologise, saying an apology could have legal consequences.

The decision has drawn further attention because, in the same announcement, the IDF said it would open criminal investigations into the deaths of Palestinian child Hind Rajab, her relatives and two paramedics, as well as 15 Palestinians killed in a separate incident in March 2025.

Australia’s criticism represents one of its strongest condemnations of Israel’s military conduct since the Gaza war began.

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